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News

Spain reign in Europe

(FIFA.com) Monday 30 June 2008

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Fernando Torres was the hero of the night as Spain defeated
Germany in the final of UEFA EURO 2008 and ended a 44-year trophy
drought in the process. No sooner had the final whistle blown than
jubilant supporters started spilling out onto the streets to
celebrate a historic, not to say stylish, triumph that has
rekindled the love affair between the fans and
La Roja.

"They've been very consistent," said Germany coach
Joachim Low afterwards. "They played in the final just as
they've done throughout the tournament and they deserve to be
European champions."
Under the tutelage of Luis Aragones, Spain have produced
captivating performances in each of their six games in Austria,
serving up quality attacking football every time. "That's
what any football lover wants to see," said the proud coach.
"A lot of people will start looking at this Spain side now
because they're an example of how the game should be played.
All you have to do to make this team champions is manage them
properly. We've won in style."

The Wise Man of Hortaleza, as he is known, has brought together
one of the finest generations of players the country has ever
known. At the ripe old age of 69 years and 337 days he has became
the oldest coach ever to lift the European Championship, an
achievement sealed with a win that took their unbeaten run to 22
matches, a purple patch that includes 19 victories and stretches
back to November 2006 and a 1-0 loss to Romania.

The future looks brightAragones put his faith in youth. And while the heroes of
Vienna were the third youngest squad in the whole tournament, what
they lacked in experience they more than made up for in enthusiasm
and impish cheek as they surged to the continental title. Despite
their tender age, these "little madmen", as they have
been dubbed in the press, are the heartbeats of their club sides.
Cesc Fabregas, one of the stars of the tournament, is the stylish
leader of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal outfit, while Sunday
evening's matchwinner, Fernando Torres, forms the backbone of
the Liverpool team along with compatriots Jose Reina, Xabi Alonso
and Alvaro Arbeloa.

At the back the team is superbly marshalled by Iker Casillas,
Carles Puyol, Marcos Senna and Carlos Marchena, all of whom have
plenty of international football left in them, as have Xavi
Hernandez, Joan Capdevilla, Sergio Ramos, Alonso and David Villa,
who have all come into their own over the last three weeks. This
tightly knit unit can also call on a host of talented youngsters in
Andres Iniesta, David Silva, Santi Cazorla, Sergio Garcia, Ruben de
la Red and Fernando Navarro, assuring a promising future for the
boys in red.

Poetry in motionThe Spaniards backed up their midfield artistry with goals,
12 of them in all, making them the most potent team in the
competition. David Villa, who ended the tournament as top scorer
with four goals, was ably assisted by his versatile team-mates,
with Torres and Dani Guiza both scoring twice and Cesc, De la Red,
Xavi and Silva contributing with a goal apiece. With their
compelling performances, the new Spanish breed made sure seasoned
goal-getters such as Raul Gonzalez and Raul Tamudo were not
missed.

"We've put together a team that plays really well, that
moves the ball around nicely and is difficult to stop,"
explained Aragones. "We need to have possession of the ball.
We suffer if we don't have it, but when we do we have more
chance of scoring."

Of course it's important to be physical but it's just one
aspect. The most important thing is to play well and then to be in
good physical shape

UEFA's Player of the Tournament Xavi Hernandez on the lessons of Spain's success

The key to success was undoubtedly the supremely gifted midfield
engine room. Xavi, named by UEFA as the Player of the Tournament,
weaved magical patterns with Iniesta and Silva, while the
inspirational Brazil-born Senna provided both security at the back
and an extra option going forward. "With this win we've
rubbished a few theories that say physical strength comes
first," said Xavi.
."

Such are Spain's midfield riches that Aragones could afford
to leave players of the calibre of Xabi Alonso and Fabregas on the
bench. Time and again the Arsenal man unzipped his tracksuit to
play a vital role in his side's progress, most notably in the
semi-final against Russia when he came on in place of the injured
Villa and laid on two goals with his crisp passing. Another support
act to impress was the two-footed Cazorla, who provided an infusion
of energy with his incisive running whenever he was introduced into
the fray.

And when Aragones rested his first string for the third group
match against Greece, the understudies rose to the occasion to send
the deposed champions packing with a 2-1 win. Academic as the
result was, it nevertheless augured well for a team who bonded so
well off the pitch that they proved unstoppable on it.

The best form of defence is attack"The Spanish are so technically gifted," enthused
Low after the final. "They are committed to playing to a very
high standard, even the youngsters. And when they have the ball
they are very strong."

"We've won all our games and we've proved that
attacking football does have a place," commented Villa,
echoing the words of the Germany coach. "That's got to be
good for football and it shows that we weren't wrong to commit
ourselves to playing an offensive game."

Low was right to point to Spain's focus on precocious
talent. Many of last night's champions formed part of the same
national youth teams and have played and suffered together. Along
with Marchena and Xavi, captain Casillas was a member of the side
that won the FIFA World Youth Championship Nigeria 1999, and others
like Iniesta, Cesc, Silva, Torres, Raul Albiol and Reina grew
accustomed to success at an early age.

Another vital component in Spain's triumphant campaign was
their defensive solidity, Casillas and Co conceding only three
goals in their six games, making them the tightest defence in the
tournament.
"We have shown the world that after so many
disappointments an attacking philosophy still has its place in
football," said the keeper, Spain's saviour in the
shootout win over Italy. "This win could be so important for
Spanish players as it will make them believe in themselves and in
the way they play."

Perhaps the biggest area of concern before the tournament was
the defence. Even so, the centre-half pairing of Marchena and Puyol
went from strength to strength as the tournament went on and
impassively barred the way to goal for more than a few strikers.
Joan Capdevilla kept things tight on the left and fellow full-back
Sergio Ramos recovered from a shaky start to regain his rampaging
form of old, blocking off would-raiders down the right and racing
up the flank at any opportunity to engineer some mayhem at the
other end.

Time for tributesHaving waited so long for something to celebrate, Spanish
fans understandably partied long into the night, with many deciding
to continue the festivities by welcoming the victors back to
Madrid. As for the players themselves, the celebrations started on
the pitch at the Ernst Happel Stadium and involved some heartfelt
dedications. Sergio Ramos pulled on a T-shirt bearing a photograph
of his friend and former Sevilla team-mate Antonio Puerta, who died
last August, while Casillas dedicated the win to long-standing team
doctor Genaro Borras, who passed away recently.

Midfield hero Senna wrapped himself in a Villarreal flag in
tribute to the team that has helped him make his name in Spain,
while third keeper Andres Palop went up to collect his winner's
medal sporting the jersey ex-
Seleccion keeper Luis Arconada wore in the 1984 final
against France, a game in which he famously allowed a Michel
Platini free kick to slither underneath his body and over the line.
And when Palop took receipt of his medal from Arconada's
executioner, the UEFA President could not resist a little
smile.